Presbytery of Western New York
E-Newsletter

February 23, 2010

Hamburg Presbyterian Wins National Award
Union-PSCE has named the winners of the 2010 Congregation Awards. The awards honor congregations for innovative service in Christian education, youth ministry, early childhood education and ministry with special populations. Each award provides a $1,000 grant from Union-PSCE to support congregations in their ministries. The 2010 James Goodpasture Award for Ministry with Special Populations recognized Hamburg Presbyterian Church in Hamburg, NY, for its inspiring service to developmentally disabled men and women from eight group homes in the community. The Christian Nurture Program has been offering a specially designed worship service for this population for the past 14 years.

7th Annual Gospel Celebration
MacAlpine Presbyterian Church, 2700 Bailey Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. Sponsors 7th Annual Gospel Celebration for area Choirs, Feb. 26 Fri, 7pm. For more information: call 893-0208.

Fish Fry at Lockport Home
There will be a Fish Fry at the Lockport Home on Friday February 26 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Cost is $8.00; $7.50 if you preorder by February 22. Questions, please contact Toni Parada at 434-8805 ext. 13. Click here for a flyer.

Christians in “Muslim” Lands:  
Panel Discussion and Supper at North, Williamsville
Much of what you know about the history of Christianity is just plain wrong, says Philip Jenkins in his latest book, The Lost History of Christianity.  Christianity was centered in Asia and Africa for more than a thousand years and is not inherently a “European” religion. How did Christianity finally lose out to Islam in the Middle East and North Africa? What is the current condition of the Christian church in the Middle East and northern Africa?  What implications does this have for Presbyterians in mission?
This topic will be discussed by a panel comprised of Stuart Chen, from Knox church, who spent a Fulbright year in Turkey, Mary Lee Talbot, of Presbytery staff, and Timothy Wadkins, professor of religion at Canisius College.  The panel discussion follows a potluck supper at North Presbyterian Church in Williamsville  on Sunday, February 28, at 5:30 P. M.  Phone 839-1912 for reservations so that we know how many places to set in Westminster Fellowship Hall.

Lights! Camera! Faith statements!
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) youth groups across the country are invited to participate in the second on-line Youth Video Challenge as part of Youth Mission Initiative Live (ymiLIVE, pronounced why-em-eye LIVE). Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation, youth groups will compete to win one of two $25,000 endowment funds established by the Foundation to benefit their church youth ministry programs.

For the contest, youth groups create a 2-4 minute video with their interpretation of John 7:38: Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living waters — which is the theme of the 219th General Assembly — then post their video to ymiLIVE.org. Video submissions will be accepted March 15 - June 1. On-line voting by youth group members, leaders, parents, friends and families will continue through June 7. During that time, on-line voters will narrow the field of video entries to a group of 10 finalists.

Final selection of the two winning videos will made by a vote of the 15-member General Assembly Task Force on Youth and announced during the Assembly in Minneapolis, July 3-10. Last Assembly’s inaugural ymiLIVE Youth Video Challenge in 2008 drew video submissions from more than 100 PC(USA) youth groups across the country.

“When we originally planned this initiative, I would never have dreamed of the far-reaching impact it would have on so many different groups, said Colleen Hahn, the Foundation’s vice-president of marketing. “The youth group leaders told of how this project brought their group together and focused around their interpretation of scripture. Even if they were not chosen as finalists, it was still a great experience. People were talking about the videos — which ones made them laugh or cry, the ones that were their favorites. These videos connect people on whole new levels of spiritual life that words alone cannot.”

Added Presbyterian Foundation President Tom Taylor: “This YouTube generation has such unbelievable creativity when it comes to saying what they believe through videos. Some of these kids’ video-statements of faith are funny, others are heart-wrenching. All of them are profoundly meaningful when one reflects that they are being created by our teens who our culture is pulling in so many other directions, many of which are destructive. I thank God for the ymiLive Challenge as a ministry to our youth and for their ministry to us in return.”  Interested Presbyterian youth groups can register now at the ymiLIVE Web site .

Resource Center Open House
Visit the Resource Center Open House on Wednesday, March 3, 4:30-7:30 pm to preview new DVDs, books, ask questions, and borrow resources. Instructions for some Lent activities will be available. Come enjoy the refreshments and bring along someone who hasn't used the Resource Center. Additional Lenten reflections will be available at North Presbyterian Church's Soul Feast "Receive God's Lavish Love" Spirituality Centers. Remember to bring back overdue resources. The Resource Center is in North Presbyterian Church, 300 North Forest Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221. For further information, call Mary Mohlke at 631-0979 Mon. - Thurs, 9-noon. or email her at mmohlke@gmail.com

Three Camps offered this summer
North Church in North Tonawanda will offer three different camps for youth this summer.  From June 25-30, Rev. Stuart Buisch will lead a work camp at Wright Memorial Presbyterian Church in Irving, NY.  From July 12-16, 18 there will be Music Camp at North Church and from July 26-30, August 1, there will be an Arts and Drama Camp. Click below for more information and registration forms for the events:

• June 25-30 Mission Trip
• July 12-16 Music Camp
• July 26-30 Arts & Drama Camp
  

Dessert Party
There will be a dessert party at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 7 from 11:30-2:00.  Click here for a flyer.

NEACE Spring Meeting
Click here for a flyer on the spring meeting of the North East Association of Christian Educators. The theme is “What Does the Lord Require of You” and Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, former Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PCUSA will be one of the keynote speakers.

Presbyterian Calendars
2010 – 2011 Presbyterian Planning Calendar orders are now being taken.  The deadline for order (with payment) is April 1, 2010.  Click here for the order form.

Tech-Savvy People needed for Workshops
Facilitators are needed next fall for a set of workshops that will help churches tell their story using up-date- media. If you are one of those tech-savvy people (or know one) who want to share their expertise with other churches, let Mary Mohlke, at the Resource Center, know by sending your information to mmohlke@gmail.com.  The workshops will be sponsored by the Education Committee of WNY.  Click here for the flyer for more information.

A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples
Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees and prevent displacement for millions. Below is the link to the 2010 Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 19-21, Washington, DC.  Please note that the Peacemaking team is offering grants to help participants defray the cost: $200 each for three participants.  Registration should be sent in now; application for the Peacemaking grant is available at the Presbytery office. Registration is $160; goes up to $175 after Feb. 19th. http://advocacydays.org/conference/glance.php

Synod of the Northeast E-newsletter
Click here to ready the latest issue of the Nor’easter.

“Awake My Soul,” the annual meeting of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators was held in Nashville, TN in January 2010.  Mary Mohlke designed the four banners and lectern and communion paraments for the event. She is pictured here with the event coordinator, Susan Penrod. 

Church Smart Resources
Click here for news about resources from Church Smart on church leadership and finance.

Mozart Requiem at Westminster
Click here for information on the worship service at Westminster using Mozart’s Requiem on March 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Webinar from Presbyterian Outlook
The Presbyterian Outlook will sponsor a webinar on March 2 with David Gambrell of the PCUSA Office of Worship.  Click here for details.

Camp Duffield Grant Application
 Please pray for the approval of the grant application for the new Seymour Center at Camp Duffield.  This new center will be the worship, meeting and conference center for the camp.  Approximately $427,000 is needed to build this center (less if we use volunteers).  Simply pray for the funds.  Thank you as we serve an awesome God.

Third Presbyterian Church, North Tonawanda
The little white church in the middle of Felton Street with the big, big heart.
We are glad for the contributions and hard work of our church members. They have made it possible to replace our sanctuary roof, make major repairs of plastering and painting inside our church, and purchase new furniture for major rooms in our church.
Update on Super Bowl Sunday: 155 cans of food and $165.00 was collected for the food pantry in North Tonawanda. In addition, our church members contributed 116 bags of food and $1,550.00 for the food pantry in 2009.
Our church is preparing hygiene supplies and first–aid kits for Haiti. We will also be taking weekly collections during Lent for Haiti.
Lenten Soup Supper: Wednesdays, 5:00pm, February 24, March 10, 17, 24. Christian Story Teller Carol Ann Gleason will present Lenten messages through stories and parables.
Saint Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 13: 5:00pm.A special Irish musical program will be performed by the distinguished musician, Ramundo. The menu will consist of corned beef, cabbage, potato, buttered carrots, Irish soda bread, dessert, coffee, tea, and pink lemonade. In addition, there will be a basket auction.
Our church hosts the Sunday radio program “Taste of New Wine.” It is broadcast every Sunday on WJJL, 1440AM, at 9:00AM. Rev Dr. Jeffery L. Grove delivers a weekly sermon on this station which reaches all of Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada.

Music and the Arts of Orchard Park Presbyterian Church announces Kindred "In-Concert" on Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 4:00 pm. 
Join us for an evening performance with Kindred - David and Felicia Meyer, in the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, 4369 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, NY.  Kindred has a rare blending of voice, cello, guitars, and percussion.  They draw their music from the Irish poets, pubs, and county fairs; from the Scottish Highlands, Atlantic Canada, and the Appalachian crannies of the American southeast.  This concert is open to the community and all are welcome to attend this program. Admission by donation: $10 Suggested.  Admission includes some Irish Treats and Coffee. Please feel free to share this concert information widely.  Click here for a concert event flyer including biographical information. We hope you will join us for this concert event.

New Ways to Fund Ministry
Click here for information on a one day workshop from Alban Institute on new ways to fund ministry with Joy Skjegstad.

Sabbath: A Gift of Time
Click here for the latest edition of the Presbyterian Leader.